2 Incidents Underscore Danger of Realistic Toy Guns, Police Say

Oxnard police put out a warning Tuesday after two close calls involving youths brandishing realistic-looking toy pistols.

Both cap guns resembled .45-caliber semiautomatic pistols and did not have the fluorescent or colored markings required by federal law since 1988 to prevent the toys from being mistaken for real weapons, authorities said.

The Chinese-made silver plastic toys with black hand grips are virtually indistinguishable from real guns, authorities said, and are being sold by an ice cream vendor in north Oxnard for $2. Police have not begun an active search for the vendor.

On Sunday evening, a male juvenile loitering at Fremont Intermediate School, 1130 N. M St., drew one of the toy pistols from his waistband when an Oxnard police officer shined a spotlight at him.

Authorities said the youth was detained but not charged with any crime. His toy gun was confiscated and destroyed.

On Monday afternoon, an Oxnard police officer responding to a call about a man with a gun near Lantana and Camelia streets stopped a 14-year-old boy who fit the description given by witnesses.

As the officer approached, the youth drew the toy pistol from his pants and threw it on the ground. He was also questioned and released.

Both youths were affiliated with local gangs, authorities said, adding that either situation could have ended tragically.

Authorities said there have been no recent incidents of officers or civilians firing upon individuals after mistaking a toy gun for a real weapon. However, such cases have occurred in other parts of the country.

Toy guns, regardless of any markings or coloring used to distinguish them from real weapons, should be left at home, authorities said.